The Sunset Ceremony for the Somme

On 15 September 2016, the New Zealand Government held three ceremonies to mark 100 years since New Zealand’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme at Longueval, France.

The Sunset Ceremony took place at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial which is positioned close to the New Zealand Division’s first objective on 15 September 1916.

Lieutenant General Tim Keating, Chief of Defence Force New Zealand, delivered a poroporoaki (farewell reflection) and the New Zealand Defence Force musicians performed a collaborative musical arrangement depicting ‘A Day in Battle’.

The New Zealand Government thanks the French government and people and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their support of these services.